Author: Malcolm

Today Belle and Sebastian released their third EP in as many months, concluding the trilogy “How To Solve Our Human Problems.” The CD version compiling all fifteen tracks from the series is available today too– as is the limited edition box set containing all 3 EPs and poster insert.

Belle and Sebastian are on the road in Europe through the end of March, soon to be joined by Julien Baker. Then they’ll make their way across North America in June, supported on select dates by Perfume Genius and Snail Mail. Tickets for all dates are listed below and on sale now.

If all this weren’t enough, the group took a poll this week asking fans to contribute their thoughts to “Bowlie on a Boat,” a European cruise commemorating the 20th anniversary of their self-produced music festival Bowlie Weekender. The poll is live and awaiting your input here.

Julien Baker first performed at NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert in early 2016, several months after the release of her debut album Sprained Ankle. Today she becomes one of the few artists to perform at Tiny Desk for a second time. Joined by her touring violinist Camille Faulkner, Baker performed three tracks from her sophomore LP Turn Out The Lights, “Appointments,” “Hurt Less,” and “Even.” This session comes on the heels of Julien’s late night debut, performing “Turn Out The Lights” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Baker has also announced her first U.S. tour dates of 2018 today, through the Midwest and Northeast this spring after traveling to Europe in March with Belle & Sebastian. Tickets for the new dates are on sale this Friday, January 12th at 10am EST.

Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile have a lot to celebrate this year: Their LP Lotta Sea Lice has been featured on Best-Of lists from Rolling Stone, Consequence of Sound, Paste, Uproxx, Noisey, among others so far, and they’ve traveled North America together with their all-star group The Sea Lice. Today NPR released Courtney & Kurt’s Tiny Desk Concert, which sees the duo leave the band behind in favor of a mirrored acoustic performance. The set features highlights from Lotta Sea Lice “Over Everything,” “Continental Breakfast,” “Blue Cheese,” and “Let It Go.” Watch the whole thing here:

A couple weeks after delivering The OOZ to the world, King Krule dropped by the All Songs Considered offices in Washington D.C. to perform a stripped version of some of the new material. Several weeks and about 30 sold-out shows across the U.S. and Europe later, the video premieres today. Watch as Archy and the band manage to transform the sunny NPR office into a dingy South London pub with the tracks, “Midnight 01 (Deep Sea Diver), Lonely Blue, and a combination of “Logos” and “Sublunary.”

Snail Mail announced today new dates with London natives Shame, in Houston, New Orleans, and along the East Coast this upcoming March. Tickets are on sale this Friday at 10am EST. This tour follows an opening slot for Ex Hex in December, and Midwestern/Canadian dates early in 2018 with Lomelda and Ought, all of which are on sale now.

Hot off a headlining date at Madison Square Garden, Queens of the Stone Age are taking Europe by storm for the month of November. Josh Homme and company already have an enormous 2018 planned, beginning on the West Coast and playing in South America in February. Today, Queens announced Spring tour dates across the United States and Canada with openers Wolf Alice and Royal Blood.

Fresh off a North American tour with Beach Fossils, Snail Mail has announced a string of Winter dates, the first of what will be a very big 2018 for the group. The tour includes support from Lomelda on several shows, and a few dates with Montreal natives Ought. Tickets are on sale this Friday at 10am EST.

Last Saturday, the morning after headlining at a sold-out Town Hall, Julien Baker’s performance on “CBS This Morning” was broadcast across the country. Baker performed three tracks from her new LP Turn Out The Lights, “Appointments”, “Turn Out The Lights” and “Televangelist”.

Julien Baker ends the North American leg of her tour tonight in Brooklyn at Rough Trade, where she will perform several songs and answer questions from fans. Next week Julien begins her UK/EU tour, then returns to the states at the end of November for dates with David Bazan and Half Waif.

While in Los Angeles earlier this month celebrating the release of their collaborative LP Lotta Sea Lice, Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile live-streamed “Sea Lice By The Seaside”, a performance of several tracks from the new album. The webcast, shot along the ocean-side of Malibu, features Courtney & Kurt joined by the all-star backing band they currently have out with them on their sold-out North American tour. Pitchfork has the entire stream posted on YouTube, watch below:

King Krule is currently en route to Washington D.C. to begin his sold-out North American tour, after releasing his second LP The OOZtocriticalacclaim. Before leaving London he performed a vicious version of OOZ standout “Dum Surfer” on Later… with Jools Holland.

After reissuing Helium’s The Dirt of Luck, The Magic City, and releasing the double LP compilation Ends With And last spring, Mary Timony played a sold-out run of shows across the East Coast. Today she has announced another set of dates playing the songs of Helium on the West Coast in February 2018, with opener Allison Crutchfield. These will surely sell out just as quickly, so jump on them as they go on sale Friday at 1pm EST/10am PDT.

Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile are in California this week celebrating the release of their collaborative LP Lotta Sea Lice. After performing at KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic on Tuesday, an Amoeba in-store on Thursday, and a headlining slot at Desert Daze in Joshua Tree over the weekend, it’s time for the duo kick back and dip a toe in the Pacific waters. “Sea Lice By The Seaside”, a Pitchfork Live webcast, features Courtney, Kurt and their all-star backing band performing tracks off of the new record at an ocean-side Malibu mansion. The continental breakfast spread is rumored to be excellent. Pitchfork’s webcast is live Today at 2pm EST/11am PDT, watch the stream here.

Steve Gunn has been a touring tour de force this year supporting his recent LP Eyes On The Lines. 2018 shows no signs of Gunn slowing down, as he announces today a string of West Coast tour dates to begin the year. Julie Byrne provides support for all dates, and tickets go on sale Friday (10/13) at 1pm EST/10am PDT.

The Ooz is almost here! King Krule will drop his long awaited second LP this Friday the 13th, accompanied by a sold-out US/EU tour beginning later this month. Check out photos of the record below, a beautifully made gatefold 2xLP, and pre-order your copy here.

Earlier this Summer Lucy Dacus stopped by the KEXP studios to perform four tracks from her terrific 2016 debut No Burden. Watch the session below, and be sure to catch her formidable live act on the upcoming fall tour.

On the heels of his terrific fan-created video for “Wreath”, Perfume Genius released his new KEXP session today. Watch all four performances below and be sure to catch Perfume Genius on the road this Autumn.

Julien Baker announced today that she will take the stage at Prairie Home Companion on Saturday Oct 7th alongside Chris Stapleton and host Chris Thile. Tickets for the performance, which will take place at St. Paul’s Palace in St. Paul MN, are on sale now and available here. Prairie Home Companion will be streaming the show live from their website at Prairiehome.org.

Julien Baker’s forthcoming LP Turn Out The Lights arrives on October 27th. Watch the video for “Appointments” and view dates for her Fall Tour below.

Spoon made a pit stop on their US tour to stop by The Current’s studio and play a stripped-down version of their recent single “Can I Sit Next To You”. Watch Britt Daniel and Alex Fischel perform the Hot Thoughts highlight, and check out their upcoming tour dates below.